Red Heads headed to hall of fame

Kathy Jones Heck from Holly was on the team

She was informed that the All American Red Heads will join the Class of 2012 to be honored on September 6-8 during this year's Enshrinement Ceremonies into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.

The other inductees include:

Five-time NBA All-Star Reggie Miller.

The NBA's all-time winningest coach Don Nelson.

Three-time National College Player of the Year Ralph Sampson.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Katrina McClain.

Distinguished basketball official and coordinator Hank Nicols.

Former college and NBA star Jamaal Wilkes.

They join the five directly elected members who were announced during the NBA All-Star Weekend in February.

Kathy "Shorty" Jones was a 6-3 center and pivot forward, on the All American Red Heads women's profession basketball teams. She played with the team during the 1972 and 1973 seasons. Kathy Jones Heck lives in Holly, Colo. (Courtesy photo)

The All American Red Heads were known as the female version of the Harlem Globetrotters and the first women's professional basketball team.

The Red Heads had from one to three teams on the road at the same time and regularly played more than 200 games per season, winning 70 percent of them while touring thousands of miles reaching 49 states, Canada, and the Philippines.

Over six decades (from 1936 to 1986), the team broke social barriers and stereotypes playing in small towns and rural hamlets, as well as Madison Square Garden and Chicago Stadium.

Kathy grew up in Spearville, Kan. and was a 1972 high school graduate.

"There wasn't a whole lot going on for young girls at that time and my folks didn't have the money for college," she explained. "When I tried out for the team, they accepted me."

She was a 6-3 center and pivot forward for the Red Heads and played for the organization in 1972 and 1973. She earned the nickname "Shorty" by her teammates.

Teams averaged eight games a week for 10 months out of the year and played against teams made up of men. Kathy said that the team she was on traveled in a limousine with a driver.

"I cherish the time I had playing with the Red Heads and I'll never forget it," Kathy said. "We traveled all over the United States and had a lot of good times."

When Kathy learned about the induction, she said she was shocked. "The more I think about it, the more prouder I get. I can't wait until the enshrinement ceremony. I'll be there!"

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